Two press photographers have been newly appointed as board members at the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
Jonathan Barry, picture editor of the Worcester News and Paul Walters, director and picture editor of the South West News Service, have joined the NCTJ’s photography examinations board.
The pair have been appointed after a decision to increase the involvement of picture editors from the industry, the change in leader for the photography course at Sheffield College and a growing interest in delivering the qualification from new centres.
Legendary tutor Paul Delmar stepped down from leading the press photography and photojournalism course last summer and a party was held in his honour, but he remained on the board while new members were appointed.
And Paul’s replacement, Robert Rathbone, who was appointed to lead the course, has had to step down from the board to avoid the risk of conflicts of interest, with other centres interested in running the qualification.
Jonathan started taking photos with his father, who was club photographer for Blackburn Rovers FC and also ran his own business, before joining the Accrington Observer in 1983 and later the Rochdale Observer group of newspapers.
He became a staff photographer at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in 1994 and joined the Worcester News in 2004 after three years working with Suburban Newspapers in Auckland, New Zealand.
Paul Walters started his photographic career as a trainee with the South Avon Mercury in North Somerset in 1979 before moving to the Bath Evening Chronicle in 1982 as a senior photographer.
He was headhunted by the Bristol-based South West News Service in 1984, becoming a director in 1988 and then picture editor in the early 1990’s.
NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said “I am delighted that two such accomplished photographers and picture editors are joining the photography board.
“With this membership of the board I am confident that the training scheme for professional photographers remains in excellent hands.”
She also paid tribute to Paul Delmar, saying the NCTJ would always be grateful for his contribution to the training of press photographers.
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In the interests of accuracy,I would like to put the record straight.The NCTJ Photographic Board has not had a formal meeting since 2009-and I was unaware NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher had appointed new board members. It was not until I received a letter from her in December 2010 that I learned I was no longer a member of the board.This arbitrary and unwelcome decision was a total surprise to me and to other board members.
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